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OEDIPUS REX AS A TRAGIC HERO:

Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, is the tale of a tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle. This book is the story

of a king who learns that he has done a terrible deed through his own folly. He is consequently

punished. This classic story teaches the lesson that pride and other sins come before a fall.

LARGER THAN LIFE (A KING NOT AN ORDINARY MAN):

The first part of the definition of a tragic hero states that the character, usually the protagonist, must

be of a noble birth and also must be virtuous and noble of character. Oedipus is all of these things; he

is a king, and a king's son. All of his people come to him when they are in a time of trouble, showing

that they trust him to treat them with virtuousness and nobility.

NEITHER VIRTUOUS NOR VICIOUS:

The second part of the definition states that the character is not perfect; he or she is like any other

normal person, except for being of noble birth. Oedipus shows this well, even though he is a king. He

is quick to show anger and very slow to forgive his friends and family, as shown through the way he

treated Creon. He can also be cruel, as when he spoke and acted to the shepherd. This is shown

through Oedipus' words on page sixty: "Come here, one of you; bind his arms behind him...you will

die now unless you speak the truth."

HAMARTIA:

The downfall of the protagonist is partially their own fault, and comes about because of their own

character flaws. Oedipus' character flaw, or hamartia, was hubris, or arrogant pride. Oedipus himself

reveals his hamartia when he tells the story of the day that he killed Laius. Oedipus was walking

along a road, and when Laius' chariot came by, Oedipus was forced off to the side. His pride was so

hurt that he killed Laius and his party. In this way Oedipus killed his own father, as it was

prophesied.

PERIPETEIA (REVERSAL OF HEROS FORTUNE):

The character's flaw causes their downfall; there is a reversal of fortune. Before Oedipus realized that

he himself had killed his father, he had sworn that whoever had killed the king would be exiled from

Thebes and followed by misery all of their days. Now, because of his own arrogance and pride, these

things will happen to Oedipus.

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ANAGNORSIS:

(DISCOVERY OF TRUTH/REALIZATION OF HERO ABOUT HIS BAD DEEDS AND

SINS):

The fifth part of the definition states that the character realizes that they brought about their own

downfall. Oedipus intensely realizes this, and is filled with dismay and horror. He finally realizes that

Laius is his true father, and that he killed him in a moment of hurt pride. He also realizes that his

wife is his mother, and blinds himself because he can no longer bear to look at his children. Finally,

Oedipus recognizes that he had earlier stated that whoever had killed Laius would be punished, and

this would now happen to him.

CONCLUSION:

Oedipus the King fits the definition of a tragic hero. He is not perfect, and has some flaws, just likeanybody else. Through his own arrogance and pride, he makes an error, and consequently he is

destroyed. In the end, he realizes that this destruction of his life is his own fault. He sees that

character flaws are the harbingers of downfall.